The Chinese military commander Sun Tzu is influential and famous for his work The Art of War. While it is an inspiration for military commanders and business leaders, the ideas that Sun Tzu puts forth are also worthwhile to examine and apply to football.
Part One: Laying Plans
Sun Tzu mentions how war is governed by five constant factors. To this end, so is football. The first of which he refers to the Moral Law which demands that people follow their ruler and trust in him, so must an NSFL player trust in their General Manager and team. Next Sun Tzu mentions Heaven, representative of the night and day, times, and seasons. As we think of football, Sun Tzu’s Heaven is representative of our cycle through the DSFL, NSFL and into retirement. Third we have the Earth. While the Earth represents the distances, dangers, security and chances for life and death, so too in football it represents protecting your quarterback, making plays and securing the ball, and wins and losses. Sun Tzu mentions fourth the Commander, the virtues of wisdom, benevolence, courage and strictness. This is representative of our league commissioner, head office, and the way they must govern and impose sanctions upon us if we are to stray. Finally, Sun Tzu mentions the Method and Discipline. In war we must have subdivisions of our army, ranks among officers, and maintenance for roads of supply and control. In football, so too do we have the divisions of our teams, separations of our players by offense, defense, and special teams, and the road and supply of TPE to guide us into our victories and improvement.
As Sun Tzu states, we must know these five heads. They should be familiar, in particular, to our Generals … I mean, General Managers, and those who know them best, will return victorious. Utilimis Champions. Sun Tzu is clear when he says that those who listen to his council will be victorious, while those who do not will be cast into the shadows of defeat. Defeat, in fact, that should be cause for dismissal.
Additionally, while we know that these five constant factors are important, even more important for a General Manager is to recognize and hold true the ability to modify and change one's plans, especially when circumstances are not ideal. Being able to convince and persuade players to change positions to more favorable or necessary ones can be the difference between survival, and elimination.
Keep in mind, General managers, that while we continue to look at the general chats and league chats, that you cannot trust what players may say. Wars (and in indeed football games) are based upon deception, and there is no one who is opposed to you who shall be truthful to you. You must be able to act and create your football plays in a way that your opponent cannot detect them, have your defensive players sneak around to sack, your offensive players find the holes and have the ball reach victory. As Sun Tzu says, “when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.” A team must design their plays in such a way that they can effectively fool the enemy defense or offense and achieve victory. “Hold out baits” to make the team attempt the sack. Fake the punt and throw for the touchdown instead. Be vigilant in your attempts to deceive the enemy. But you cannot let your guard down. The moment that you think that you are secure around your quarterback you must still be prepared. If they break through, your quarterback must be able to scramble and evade.
Part Two: Waging War
While it is important to make sure that your army, I mean team, is trained and properly outfitted, it is also important to make sure that they are entertained. Sun Tzu mentions the costs that will be spent to entertain guests, providing them with glue and paint, as well as provisions. So too must general managers provide their teams with an outlet, especially in their locker rooms. By offering safe chats, games, and other activities, you can not only build camaraderie, but also provide your team with the necessities of war!
As you wage war against enemy teams, bear in mind that the longer a player plays, the more dull their weapons become. Before you lay siege to an enemy team, you must recognize that you will exhaust your strength, this is especially true with player contracts. When you have spent everything you have, money, resources, TPE, and players working to defeat the enemy, you must recognize it as the opportunity for other General Managers to attempt to poach your team members. Long warfare, longer attempts to keep a solitary player or to throw all resources at a single problem, will never be good for your team, and you must know when it is time to end the fight.
In order to become an effective general manager, you must be “thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war.” Only then can you become profitable and understand what must be done in order to keep your team effective and in top shape. This means that you must play, you must participate in order to better help your team succeed. Additionally, you cannot force more than what your team can provide. Sun Tzu mentions taxing and making them carry twice the load, but for your team this means that you cannot expect them to complete each and every task to the fullest. While you may hope and encourage them, you shall not punish them for living lives outside of the league.
Sun Tzu mentions that in order to “kill the enemy, our men must be roused to anger”. While I would certainly hope you are not riling your teams into a bloodlust, you must still encourage them, and excite them for the future games. This is especially important as you reach playoffs and initial games of the season. The better that a GM can make their team excited for the prospects of the future, offer communication, enlightenment and joy about the performances of the game, the better willing the players are to continue to work and improve themselves. Reward players who have done well, give them the victory ball, reward them with hall of fame prospects. Use the conquered enemy to supplement your own strength!
Part Three: Attack by Stratagem
Sun Tzu says that it is best to take an entire enemy whole, not to shatter and destroy them. It’s better to capture the enemy rather than destroy them. In this way, you must make your team appealing enough to attempt to capture ‘enemy’ players. Find the strength in their line and woo them to your side, such prospects will cripple your enemy and strength your fleet. “Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” Break the will of the enemy team and you can wrench victory from their grasps.
The better able you are to cripple the enemy without actually attacking them, the more successful you will be. Continuing to fight the problem head on, attacking at their wall of forces, the worse it will be for them. As you are on the field, make sure that you do not continue to run the ball as the defense creates a wall, instead look for the opportunities to create a hole, to break the mental defense of the other players and make them wonder why. The more you can do to prevent the enemy forces from joining together, the better your own team will be able to be successful.
Sun Tzu says, “It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy’s one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two.” As you structure plays and view the lineup of the enemy team, you must consistently be vigilant and readjust to what you are seeing. If however, your forces are outnumbered, particularly with the offensive line fails to protect the quarterback, “we can flee from him,” and flee, you must.
There are five essentials for victory: Knowing when you should put your best men on the field, and when you should use second string, knowing how to handle both better teams, and worse teams, be spirited and have your entire team, from starting players to those on the bench recognize and value their individual worth and contributions to the team, being prepared regardless and try to catch your enemy being unprepared, and finally, the more experience and those teams whose General Manager trusts and allows their team to make changes last minute on the field as they see the enemy team line up.
Part Four: Tactical Dispositions
Sun Tzu mentions the importance of good and older fights putting themselves first. A General Manager must view this as putting veteran players out onto the field. They will wait to strike and will take in information instead of feeling overzealous and eager to prove their worth. Additionally, a General Manager must recognize the fact that we can work to prevent our own defeat, but the opportunities for wins are provided by the enemy team. We may be able to defeat an enemy without realizing why we have defeated them. However, making sure we are not defeated lies in training and working with our defensive lines, to secure a victory over our enemy means that we must improve and work with our offensive lines (sorry special teams, you don’t get your own special treatment, but rather, you must work in both capacities). General Managers who are more versed in defense or offense will see that they have the advantage here.
When you can only notice and acknowledge victory, when it is well seen by even the common masses who may not understand football, is too late and is not the demonstration of excellence. Battles and games are won by making no mistakes, for not making any mistakes is what assures us of victory. Making no mistakes means that the enemy is already defeated.
Part Five: Energy
To control a larger team is much like controlling a smaller team, you just need to divide the forces. By separating teams into offense, defense, and special teams you have provided an easier way to command and bring about your ultimate victory. You just need communication and information shared among your smaller units, and victorious actions among each line will be as easy as if they were one team. While you may place your lines out onto the field, it is the deft hand the minor changes to playcalls which will ensure victory. You cannot win with broad brushstrokes. Don’t change to a spread offense after never having used it all season.
Bear in mind that there are only so many ways we can do things. Sun Tzu references the limits to primary colors, tastes, musical notes. In football there is only offense, defense, and special teams. We cannot create more than this, but these combinations and tweaking these combinations will allow an infinite amount of use and plays. Sun Tzu tells us that energy is like a crossbow. You must make the decision and hold it, before releasing to strike your victim. Make your plans ahead of time, be secure in your playbook and adaptations, and you will have the means to achieve victory.
Additionally, Sun Tzu states that “one who is skillful at keeping the enemy on the move maintains deceitful appearances”. By this, you should be ready and willing to run 2-minute drills at any point, calling multiple plays in advance, lining up quickly, and making sure that you are ready to react at a moment's notice while giving the enemy team little opportunity to recognize what they are facing.
Part Six: Weak Points and Strong Points
Sun Tzu says that whoever is first will be fresh for victory, while whoever is second will rush to the battle. When planning the moves on your football field, being able to break the huddle first and line up will allow you to feel calmed and ready for the next play. If you are rushing to line up, you will surely be less successful in your endeavours. You should look to keep these advantages at any possible moment. Make sure that you “Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend,” be quick in your action and make the opposing team play catch up. You will be rewarded greatly.
Think through the rulebook and the playbook and know it like the back of your hand. The more knowledge you have, the more that you are able to trick your opponent by offering them an impossible to guard against scenario. If they have never seen a play before, they do not know how to react to a play.
When you wish to run out the clock, make sure that you protect and prevent the enemy from engaging with you. When you are able to discover the enemies plans by staying invisible do so. Form a single team and act as one unit. You cannot be individuals and expect to win. If you are able to demolish with a superior force, take advantage and do so. The enemy team will not show you mercy if they are awarded the opportunity.
Force the team to reveal their weak and vulnerable spots, and do so by comparing your team with the enemy team. By making comparisons and understanding the opposing team, you can exploit weaknesses and shore up your own shortcomings. Strike what is weak. Know whether or not you are to have home field advantage, and if you do, make use of it!
Part Seven: Maneuvering
Sun Tzu says that a general receives commands from the sovereign. So to do the players receive play calls from the coach. But, you must blend the elements of your players and their strengths in order to turn misfortunes into gains. Taking the longer route, sometimes is what may make this possible. You cannot always run straight forward, but instead, must run a variety of plays.
If you are to move with an army, a trained group willing to work together and act as one, it is advantageous, while an undisciplined group is the most dangerous. Therefore, you must make sure that your team can act and move as one. They are no longer individuals while they reside on the football field, but are in fact a single unit, with a sole purpose: victory. However, you cannot march and play with only your strong and starting men, otherwise those others in your camp will feel as though they are unnecessary and worthless. You will not have the depth that is necessary for a successful team. Instead, one must work to make sure that the entire force which may see battle on the field is together, and always views themselves as such.
Use the weather to your advantage, the resources which you may have will change, but you can learn to act and behave differently depending upon the seasons. Move quickly, “like a thunderbolt” and allow yourself to strike the enemy as one.
Use noise to your benefit. The crowd, cheers, keys, whistles, vuvuzelas are all weapons upon which you may turn the enemies attention elsewhere. By allowing them to be distracted, you leave them open and vulnerable to attacks that they may have never seen. Use the crowd to your advantage often and well. But be wary of the crowd in non-home field situations. They too, can take advantage of you.
When you are winning, be sure to leave the enemy team room to feel some form of hope, some form of light that this will end. Do not crush them endlessly and relentlessly, instead, allow them to play against your second string. Not only do you allow your players to develop the depth and grace necessary to continue, but you do not press your foe into desperation.
Part Eight: Variation in Tactics
While it is always nice to stomp upon your enemy, and win at all costs, it should be noted that not every team needs an ultimate stomping. You can still achieve victory without removing all hope from your enemy.
While you plan your strategy and plays for the game, it is important to think of the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy, and on occasion, to blend them together. We should make sure to not rely on the enemy team’s offense or defense not arriving to the game, but rather making sure that our team is ready for all combat, no matter what plays they may throw our way.
Five faults which can affect a general, and therefore a team include: Recklessness, which will ultimately lead to your team’s destruction, Cowardice, which will lead to a definitive victory (and turnovers) from the other team, a Hasty Temper, which will provoke your team into a frenzy, leading to offsides and false starts, A Delicacy of Honor, making your team act unnaturally to help protect their honor, and finally, Over Solicitude for his Men, which means that while a general manager must care for his team and his players, he also needs to make sure to balance this with his (or her) own mental health.
Part Nine: The Army on the March
When Sun Tzu tells us about the enemy who is close and remaining quiet, he is referring to the team who will play with the quiet confidence. They will not rise up in anger or frustration, they will not trash talk on the line, because they know they are superior. However, a team which is trying to provoke is “anxious for the other side to advance”. It is important to remember that when the opponent is talking to you on the line, to not engage. Maintain your quiet confidence and do not allow the enemy to draw you into an offsides or false start situation. Likewise, when “some are seen as advancing and some retreating, it is a lure.” Do not allow this lure to draw you into a position in which you will generate penalties for your team. As Sun Tzu has shared earlier, victory is lost by mistakes.
Sun Tzu says that “He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them.” It is critical that you must plan and prepare for a game. The battle is won with preparation and lost when you think that the other team will be so easy, it won’t matter. It shouldn’t matter who your opponent is: treat every opponent as though they will defeat you.
Sun Tzu shares that rewarding too often and punishing too quickly is a sign that the enemy is in desperation. When helmet stickers are awarded for even the most basic of plays, it does not mean that your team is doing things appropriately, but rather that your General Manager is reaching levels of desperation. Please do not let your team reach desperation.
Likewise, if the General Manager is always confident that what his team is doing is correct, but will also constantly make minor changes as they go, the gains made from instilling confidence is reduced by the corrections. Trust in your players.
Part Ten: Terrain
Sun Tzu says that when there is a narrow pass, you should try to occupy it first. Let it be strongly defended and await your enemy. As you work to push through the red zone, you must be aware that your enemy is garrisoned in this narrow pass. Likewise, as you go to defend against the run game, you must shore up and block the holes. He further goes on to state that if you are blocked in the narrow pass, do not attempt to push through if it is strongly guarded, but instead, only attempt to jump over if it was weakly guarded. You can lose more ground than you gain in this way.
Additionally, Sun Tzu states, “Other conditions being equal, if one force is hurled against another ten times its size, the result will be the flight of the former.” This should be self explanatory, but don’t put your little dudes to compete with their big dudes. It will only end in pain.
Sun Tzu tells us to “regard [our] soldiers as [our] children,” and it is important for General Managers to recognize that their players are their children. They look to their managers to be cared for and to create a situation in which they can thrive. A player will follow what their General Manager recommends, and Managers should therefore treat them well.
Finally, Sun Tzu says, “If you know your enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt.” Study the tapes and the information that you have on other teams. Know your own team well and you will be assured to reach the victory that you desire.
Part Eleven: The Nine Situations
Sun Tzu tells us that skillful leaders would learn and know how to drive a wedge between an enemy’s troops. So too should a General Manager know how to divide the enemy team on the field of battle. If the enemy team is split, then it will prevent them from working together to achieve a tackle, block, or successful push. If the enemy team is united, however, the General Manager must work to keep them disorganized and in disorder. You must know when to push forward and attempt a fourth down conversion, and know when to retreat and punt.
When your team is desperate for the win, they will try anything. You should not be afraid of new plays, of risky plays during this time. Desperation will make them stand firm and hold their ground. They will do what you ask of them, and they can be trusted as your team.
As a General Manager, Sun Tzu says that you must dispel omens and superstitions. Do not allow your team to generate these bizarre game day rituals, for it will not be well for their mental health. There is no calamity that needs to be feared until there is defeat. Likewise, reward your players without any concern for the rules and traditions that may have come before, but when you must punish look to previous arrangements and considerations before executing your commands.
Sun Tzu tells us that if the enemy leaves the door open, you must rush in. If there is an opportunity, regardless of the play call, you must take advantage of it. You cannot allow such an opportunity to pass you by. Take advantage and you will end the match victorious.
Part Twelve: The Attack by Fire & Part Thirteen: The Use of Spies
I do not condone these parts of Sun Tzu’s Art of War. Setting the football field on fire will in no way assist you in your victory. Likewise while beneficial in life and death situations, spying plays with the integrity of the league. If you wish to exploit the use of spies then you must read and draw comparisons to football on your own.
Part One: Laying Plans
Sun Tzu mentions how war is governed by five constant factors. To this end, so is football. The first of which he refers to the Moral Law which demands that people follow their ruler and trust in him, so must an NSFL player trust in their General Manager and team. Next Sun Tzu mentions Heaven, representative of the night and day, times, and seasons. As we think of football, Sun Tzu’s Heaven is representative of our cycle through the DSFL, NSFL and into retirement. Third we have the Earth. While the Earth represents the distances, dangers, security and chances for life and death, so too in football it represents protecting your quarterback, making plays and securing the ball, and wins and losses. Sun Tzu mentions fourth the Commander, the virtues of wisdom, benevolence, courage and strictness. This is representative of our league commissioner, head office, and the way they must govern and impose sanctions upon us if we are to stray. Finally, Sun Tzu mentions the Method and Discipline. In war we must have subdivisions of our army, ranks among officers, and maintenance for roads of supply and control. In football, so too do we have the divisions of our teams, separations of our players by offense, defense, and special teams, and the road and supply of TPE to guide us into our victories and improvement.
As Sun Tzu states, we must know these five heads. They should be familiar, in particular, to our Generals … I mean, General Managers, and those who know them best, will return victorious. Utilimis Champions. Sun Tzu is clear when he says that those who listen to his council will be victorious, while those who do not will be cast into the shadows of defeat. Defeat, in fact, that should be cause for dismissal.
Additionally, while we know that these five constant factors are important, even more important for a General Manager is to recognize and hold true the ability to modify and change one's plans, especially when circumstances are not ideal. Being able to convince and persuade players to change positions to more favorable or necessary ones can be the difference between survival, and elimination.
Keep in mind, General managers, that while we continue to look at the general chats and league chats, that you cannot trust what players may say. Wars (and in indeed football games) are based upon deception, and there is no one who is opposed to you who shall be truthful to you. You must be able to act and create your football plays in a way that your opponent cannot detect them, have your defensive players sneak around to sack, your offensive players find the holes and have the ball reach victory. As Sun Tzu says, “when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.” A team must design their plays in such a way that they can effectively fool the enemy defense or offense and achieve victory. “Hold out baits” to make the team attempt the sack. Fake the punt and throw for the touchdown instead. Be vigilant in your attempts to deceive the enemy. But you cannot let your guard down. The moment that you think that you are secure around your quarterback you must still be prepared. If they break through, your quarterback must be able to scramble and evade.
Part Two: Waging War
While it is important to make sure that your army, I mean team, is trained and properly outfitted, it is also important to make sure that they are entertained. Sun Tzu mentions the costs that will be spent to entertain guests, providing them with glue and paint, as well as provisions. So too must general managers provide their teams with an outlet, especially in their locker rooms. By offering safe chats, games, and other activities, you can not only build camaraderie, but also provide your team with the necessities of war!
As you wage war against enemy teams, bear in mind that the longer a player plays, the more dull their weapons become. Before you lay siege to an enemy team, you must recognize that you will exhaust your strength, this is especially true with player contracts. When you have spent everything you have, money, resources, TPE, and players working to defeat the enemy, you must recognize it as the opportunity for other General Managers to attempt to poach your team members. Long warfare, longer attempts to keep a solitary player or to throw all resources at a single problem, will never be good for your team, and you must know when it is time to end the fight.
In order to become an effective general manager, you must be “thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war.” Only then can you become profitable and understand what must be done in order to keep your team effective and in top shape. This means that you must play, you must participate in order to better help your team succeed. Additionally, you cannot force more than what your team can provide. Sun Tzu mentions taxing and making them carry twice the load, but for your team this means that you cannot expect them to complete each and every task to the fullest. While you may hope and encourage them, you shall not punish them for living lives outside of the league.
Sun Tzu mentions that in order to “kill the enemy, our men must be roused to anger”. While I would certainly hope you are not riling your teams into a bloodlust, you must still encourage them, and excite them for the future games. This is especially important as you reach playoffs and initial games of the season. The better that a GM can make their team excited for the prospects of the future, offer communication, enlightenment and joy about the performances of the game, the better willing the players are to continue to work and improve themselves. Reward players who have done well, give them the victory ball, reward them with hall of fame prospects. Use the conquered enemy to supplement your own strength!
Part Three: Attack by Stratagem
Sun Tzu says that it is best to take an entire enemy whole, not to shatter and destroy them. It’s better to capture the enemy rather than destroy them. In this way, you must make your team appealing enough to attempt to capture ‘enemy’ players. Find the strength in their line and woo them to your side, such prospects will cripple your enemy and strength your fleet. “Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” Break the will of the enemy team and you can wrench victory from their grasps.
The better able you are to cripple the enemy without actually attacking them, the more successful you will be. Continuing to fight the problem head on, attacking at their wall of forces, the worse it will be for them. As you are on the field, make sure that you do not continue to run the ball as the defense creates a wall, instead look for the opportunities to create a hole, to break the mental defense of the other players and make them wonder why. The more you can do to prevent the enemy forces from joining together, the better your own team will be able to be successful.
Sun Tzu says, “It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy’s one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack him; if twice as numerous, to divide our army into two.” As you structure plays and view the lineup of the enemy team, you must consistently be vigilant and readjust to what you are seeing. If however, your forces are outnumbered, particularly with the offensive line fails to protect the quarterback, “we can flee from him,” and flee, you must.
There are five essentials for victory: Knowing when you should put your best men on the field, and when you should use second string, knowing how to handle both better teams, and worse teams, be spirited and have your entire team, from starting players to those on the bench recognize and value their individual worth and contributions to the team, being prepared regardless and try to catch your enemy being unprepared, and finally, the more experience and those teams whose General Manager trusts and allows their team to make changes last minute on the field as they see the enemy team line up.
Part Four: Tactical Dispositions
Sun Tzu mentions the importance of good and older fights putting themselves first. A General Manager must view this as putting veteran players out onto the field. They will wait to strike and will take in information instead of feeling overzealous and eager to prove their worth. Additionally, a General Manager must recognize the fact that we can work to prevent our own defeat, but the opportunities for wins are provided by the enemy team. We may be able to defeat an enemy without realizing why we have defeated them. However, making sure we are not defeated lies in training and working with our defensive lines, to secure a victory over our enemy means that we must improve and work with our offensive lines (sorry special teams, you don’t get your own special treatment, but rather, you must work in both capacities). General Managers who are more versed in defense or offense will see that they have the advantage here.
When you can only notice and acknowledge victory, when it is well seen by even the common masses who may not understand football, is too late and is not the demonstration of excellence. Battles and games are won by making no mistakes, for not making any mistakes is what assures us of victory. Making no mistakes means that the enemy is already defeated.
Part Five: Energy
To control a larger team is much like controlling a smaller team, you just need to divide the forces. By separating teams into offense, defense, and special teams you have provided an easier way to command and bring about your ultimate victory. You just need communication and information shared among your smaller units, and victorious actions among each line will be as easy as if they were one team. While you may place your lines out onto the field, it is the deft hand the minor changes to playcalls which will ensure victory. You cannot win with broad brushstrokes. Don’t change to a spread offense after never having used it all season.
Bear in mind that there are only so many ways we can do things. Sun Tzu references the limits to primary colors, tastes, musical notes. In football there is only offense, defense, and special teams. We cannot create more than this, but these combinations and tweaking these combinations will allow an infinite amount of use and plays. Sun Tzu tells us that energy is like a crossbow. You must make the decision and hold it, before releasing to strike your victim. Make your plans ahead of time, be secure in your playbook and adaptations, and you will have the means to achieve victory.
Additionally, Sun Tzu states that “one who is skillful at keeping the enemy on the move maintains deceitful appearances”. By this, you should be ready and willing to run 2-minute drills at any point, calling multiple plays in advance, lining up quickly, and making sure that you are ready to react at a moment's notice while giving the enemy team little opportunity to recognize what they are facing.
Part Six: Weak Points and Strong Points
Sun Tzu says that whoever is first will be fresh for victory, while whoever is second will rush to the battle. When planning the moves on your football field, being able to break the huddle first and line up will allow you to feel calmed and ready for the next play. If you are rushing to line up, you will surely be less successful in your endeavours. You should look to keep these advantages at any possible moment. Make sure that you “Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend,” be quick in your action and make the opposing team play catch up. You will be rewarded greatly.
Think through the rulebook and the playbook and know it like the back of your hand. The more knowledge you have, the more that you are able to trick your opponent by offering them an impossible to guard against scenario. If they have never seen a play before, they do not know how to react to a play.
When you wish to run out the clock, make sure that you protect and prevent the enemy from engaging with you. When you are able to discover the enemies plans by staying invisible do so. Form a single team and act as one unit. You cannot be individuals and expect to win. If you are able to demolish with a superior force, take advantage and do so. The enemy team will not show you mercy if they are awarded the opportunity.
Force the team to reveal their weak and vulnerable spots, and do so by comparing your team with the enemy team. By making comparisons and understanding the opposing team, you can exploit weaknesses and shore up your own shortcomings. Strike what is weak. Know whether or not you are to have home field advantage, and if you do, make use of it!
Part Seven: Maneuvering
Sun Tzu says that a general receives commands from the sovereign. So to do the players receive play calls from the coach. But, you must blend the elements of your players and their strengths in order to turn misfortunes into gains. Taking the longer route, sometimes is what may make this possible. You cannot always run straight forward, but instead, must run a variety of plays.
If you are to move with an army, a trained group willing to work together and act as one, it is advantageous, while an undisciplined group is the most dangerous. Therefore, you must make sure that your team can act and move as one. They are no longer individuals while they reside on the football field, but are in fact a single unit, with a sole purpose: victory. However, you cannot march and play with only your strong and starting men, otherwise those others in your camp will feel as though they are unnecessary and worthless. You will not have the depth that is necessary for a successful team. Instead, one must work to make sure that the entire force which may see battle on the field is together, and always views themselves as such.
Use the weather to your advantage, the resources which you may have will change, but you can learn to act and behave differently depending upon the seasons. Move quickly, “like a thunderbolt” and allow yourself to strike the enemy as one.
Use noise to your benefit. The crowd, cheers, keys, whistles, vuvuzelas are all weapons upon which you may turn the enemies attention elsewhere. By allowing them to be distracted, you leave them open and vulnerable to attacks that they may have never seen. Use the crowd to your advantage often and well. But be wary of the crowd in non-home field situations. They too, can take advantage of you.
When you are winning, be sure to leave the enemy team room to feel some form of hope, some form of light that this will end. Do not crush them endlessly and relentlessly, instead, allow them to play against your second string. Not only do you allow your players to develop the depth and grace necessary to continue, but you do not press your foe into desperation.
Part Eight: Variation in Tactics
While it is always nice to stomp upon your enemy, and win at all costs, it should be noted that not every team needs an ultimate stomping. You can still achieve victory without removing all hope from your enemy.
While you plan your strategy and plays for the game, it is important to think of the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy, and on occasion, to blend them together. We should make sure to not rely on the enemy team’s offense or defense not arriving to the game, but rather making sure that our team is ready for all combat, no matter what plays they may throw our way.
Five faults which can affect a general, and therefore a team include: Recklessness, which will ultimately lead to your team’s destruction, Cowardice, which will lead to a definitive victory (and turnovers) from the other team, a Hasty Temper, which will provoke your team into a frenzy, leading to offsides and false starts, A Delicacy of Honor, making your team act unnaturally to help protect their honor, and finally, Over Solicitude for his Men, which means that while a general manager must care for his team and his players, he also needs to make sure to balance this with his (or her) own mental health.
Part Nine: The Army on the March
When Sun Tzu tells us about the enemy who is close and remaining quiet, he is referring to the team who will play with the quiet confidence. They will not rise up in anger or frustration, they will not trash talk on the line, because they know they are superior. However, a team which is trying to provoke is “anxious for the other side to advance”. It is important to remember that when the opponent is talking to you on the line, to not engage. Maintain your quiet confidence and do not allow the enemy to draw you into an offsides or false start situation. Likewise, when “some are seen as advancing and some retreating, it is a lure.” Do not allow this lure to draw you into a position in which you will generate penalties for your team. As Sun Tzu has shared earlier, victory is lost by mistakes.
Sun Tzu says that “He who exercises no forethought but makes light of his opponents is sure to be captured by them.” It is critical that you must plan and prepare for a game. The battle is won with preparation and lost when you think that the other team will be so easy, it won’t matter. It shouldn’t matter who your opponent is: treat every opponent as though they will defeat you.
Sun Tzu shares that rewarding too often and punishing too quickly is a sign that the enemy is in desperation. When helmet stickers are awarded for even the most basic of plays, it does not mean that your team is doing things appropriately, but rather that your General Manager is reaching levels of desperation. Please do not let your team reach desperation.
Likewise, if the General Manager is always confident that what his team is doing is correct, but will also constantly make minor changes as they go, the gains made from instilling confidence is reduced by the corrections. Trust in your players.
Part Ten: Terrain
Sun Tzu says that when there is a narrow pass, you should try to occupy it first. Let it be strongly defended and await your enemy. As you work to push through the red zone, you must be aware that your enemy is garrisoned in this narrow pass. Likewise, as you go to defend against the run game, you must shore up and block the holes. He further goes on to state that if you are blocked in the narrow pass, do not attempt to push through if it is strongly guarded, but instead, only attempt to jump over if it was weakly guarded. You can lose more ground than you gain in this way.
Additionally, Sun Tzu states, “Other conditions being equal, if one force is hurled against another ten times its size, the result will be the flight of the former.” This should be self explanatory, but don’t put your little dudes to compete with their big dudes. It will only end in pain.
Sun Tzu tells us to “regard [our] soldiers as [our] children,” and it is important for General Managers to recognize that their players are their children. They look to their managers to be cared for and to create a situation in which they can thrive. A player will follow what their General Manager recommends, and Managers should therefore treat them well.
Finally, Sun Tzu says, “If you know your enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt.” Study the tapes and the information that you have on other teams. Know your own team well and you will be assured to reach the victory that you desire.
Part Eleven: The Nine Situations
Sun Tzu tells us that skillful leaders would learn and know how to drive a wedge between an enemy’s troops. So too should a General Manager know how to divide the enemy team on the field of battle. If the enemy team is split, then it will prevent them from working together to achieve a tackle, block, or successful push. If the enemy team is united, however, the General Manager must work to keep them disorganized and in disorder. You must know when to push forward and attempt a fourth down conversion, and know when to retreat and punt.
When your team is desperate for the win, they will try anything. You should not be afraid of new plays, of risky plays during this time. Desperation will make them stand firm and hold their ground. They will do what you ask of them, and they can be trusted as your team.
As a General Manager, Sun Tzu says that you must dispel omens and superstitions. Do not allow your team to generate these bizarre game day rituals, for it will not be well for their mental health. There is no calamity that needs to be feared until there is defeat. Likewise, reward your players without any concern for the rules and traditions that may have come before, but when you must punish look to previous arrangements and considerations before executing your commands.
Sun Tzu tells us that if the enemy leaves the door open, you must rush in. If there is an opportunity, regardless of the play call, you must take advantage of it. You cannot allow such an opportunity to pass you by. Take advantage and you will end the match victorious.
Part Twelve: The Attack by Fire & Part Thirteen: The Use of Spies
I do not condone these parts of Sun Tzu’s Art of War. Setting the football field on fire will in no way assist you in your victory. Likewise while beneficial in life and death situations, spying plays with the integrity of the league. If you wish to exploit the use of spies then you must read and draw comparisons to football on your own.
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